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ForgedAnvil's DD 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions For Use PDF
ForgedAnvil's DD 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions For Use PDF
First of all, we want to thank ForgedAnvil for all his incredible work on the Character Sheet.
The purpose of this document is to compile info from the thread and personal experience to reduce the
number of repeat questions that ForgedAnvil (FA) is faced with. We encourage people to post questions
about the Character Sheet not answered here or for clarifications to the thread @
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=427158
For questions/comments about this document, please do not post in the Character sheet thread. Post
here instead:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=488967
We apologize for any errors caused by changes to the Character Sheet after compilation of this document
or from oversights. We take no responsibility for lost data in response to instructions herein. We think
everything works, but it’s always good to back-up before trying something new.
All users are expected to be familiar with Microsoft Excel®(versions shown on FA download page) and the
Player’s Handbook© for D&D® 5th Ed. Basic knowledge is all that is necessary for use of this tool, but for
more involved areas a more thorough knowledge will be helpful.
FA has stated that he will only add material to the sheet which is officially published by WotC. This does
not include data from the Unearthed Arcana column or any other publisher, sanctioned or not. He has
graciously included both a Custom page for many of the subordinate designations, such as Sub-Class, or
Custom Spells, etc., but DOES NOT INCLUDE CUSTOM CLASSES. He has also included a Design-Your-Own
(DYO) page which can be turned into anything you desire. More on this inside.
FA has also said he is avoiding using macros except for the transfer tool and the sheet reset function. This
is to allow compatibility with as many programs as possible.
Free-type entries for some cells can only be done in the formula bar. If you are having trouble typing in the
cell, select the cell, then free-type in the formula bar. The Character Sheet will show an error if the area is
truly not Free-type.
Table of Contents
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Selecting Options .......................................................................................................................................... 1
Entering Ability Scores (Stats)....................................................................................................................... 1
And So On (See the following sections for content details) ......................................................................... 2
Ways of Using the Character Sheet .............................................................................................................. 3
Sheets ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Start .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Title Block ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Options ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Character Details ...................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Ability Scores ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Class & Level ......................................................................................................................................... 5
3. Character Details .................................................................................................................................. 6
4. Skills ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
6. Languages ............................................................................................................................................. 8
7. Tools...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Additional Details ..................................................................................................................................... 9
5. Ability Score Improvement & Feats ...................................................................................................... 9
8. Coinage & Starting Equipment ...........................................................................................................10
Additional Active Features, Additional Actions, Additional Ability Features, Conditions, Exhaustion and
Additional Damage Resistance & Reduction ..........................................................................................11
9. Equipment Worn ................................................................................................................................12
10. Armor & Shield .................................................................................................................................12
11. Attacks ..............................................................................................................................................13
Familiar, Animal Companion, Mount, Pet (shown twice, 1st defaults to familiar, 2nd to mount)...........13
Wildshape ( 5times) ................................................................................................................................14
Spellcasting .................................................................................................................................................14
Custom........................................................................................................................................................14
ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
DesignSpace................................................................................................................................................15
Character Sheet I ........................................................................................................................................15
Character Sheet II .......................................................................................................................................15
Gear ........................................................................................................................................................16
Carrying Capacity ....................................................................................................................................18
Familiar and Mount Sections ..................................................................................................................19
Character Sheet III ......................................................................................................................................19
Character Sheet IV ......................................................................................................................................19
Character Sheet V .......................................................................................................................................19
Wildshape ...................................................................................................................................................19
Character Summary ....................................................................................................................................19
Adventurers Log .........................................................................................................................................19
Advancing in Level ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Dealing with Magic Items ........................................................................................................................... 20
Transfer Tool and Copying Data without Using It ...................................................................................... 20
DYO and Named Variables.......................................................................................................................... 20
Calculated Weight of Packs, etc. ................................................................................................................20
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Getting Started
As you might expect, when there is a sheet named ‘Start’, you start there. The first thing is to select your
options at the top of the sheet. Then follow the instructions shown at the right under ‘Character Details’
Selecting Options
Consult your DM about these options, except Language and Colour Code.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Enter your Experience Points (0 if you are just starting out) and Select a Class for your 1st level.
Note: As you do these things, note how the Stats and Character Details areas update.
Then I follow the numbers: (Selections granted by your Race/Sub-Race, Background, Class & Sub-Class, for
each section are shown)
4: Skills
5: Ability Score Improvement and Feats (This will only be active at this point if you are using the Variant
Human option)
6: Languages
7: Tools
8: Coinage and Starting Equipment
9: Equipment Worn
10: Armor & Shield
11: Attacks
The rest of the Start sheet is usually left blank it this point as these areas don’t usually come into play until
your character reaches higher levels.
If you are a spellcaster, you need to move to ‘Spellcasting’ and deal with your spellbook. If not, or after
‘Spellcasting,‘ you can move to CSI - CSV and review your character. If something seems wrong, return to
‘Start’ and you will probably find the problem.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Use it as your online character sheet at the table, with online features (like the red eyes on the skull for
death saving throws, or the effect of temporary hit points or effects of exhaustion)
As the DM, getting the character summary sheets, or to create NPCs with much more fleshed out stats and
abilities.
Sheets
Start
This sheet may not be ‘Unprotected’
Resets entire sheet contents to
Title Block baseline. (Macro) No recovery
Options
See the Getting Started Section Above.
Character Details
(Read Only) Shows data auto-generated by your choices throughout this sheet as well as data entered in
the Additional Details Section. Display options controlled in Options Section. You can’t screw anything up
by toggling these options, so play and see.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
1. Ability Scores
Under Ability Roll, enter your initial stats as generated in keeping with your DM’s instructions. These
entries will then automatically fill-in the Ability Modifier column. Racial & Class Modifiers automatically fill
based on the Race & 1st Level Class chosen in sections 3 & 2 respectively. Modifiers entered in Custom:
Race will show if that race is chosen.
When Variant Human in Options or Feats which effect Ability Scores or Ability Score Improvement in
Section 5 are chosen, the available scores to be improved will be shaded in green and there will be an
available total shown at the bottom of the column. Once the added points are allocated, they will show in
the blocks effected and the available points will show +0.
Enter ability score changes positive and, yes, negative which are caused by Magic Items, etc. in the Magic
Modifier column. Final Score and Ability Modifier will fill in automatically. Saving Throws Proficiency will
fill in automatically based on 1st level Class and any upgrades from feats, etc. Any Saving Throw
Proficiencies granted by Magic Items, etc. can be given by toggling the Override column. Any Saving Throw
Adjust(ments) can be entered in the Saving Throw Adjust column (If the value is not shown in the drop
down, free type it in the formula bar).
Honor and Sanity are free-type entries if they are used by your DM.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Any additional HP
awarded by items, etc.
can be entered here
These entries will effect many areas throughout the workbook on many worksheets, especially CSI.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
3. Character Details
Free-type
}
race will afford choices based on
race
}
Select drop-down including
Custom Background from
Custom Sheet
Drop-down or free-type
Drop-down
Free-type
Drop-down
These character details have major impact on the rest of the sheet’s options, especially Race and
Background. Fill them in early in the process.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
4. Skills
}
Adjustments are Drop-down or
free-type
Proficiencies are toggles
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
6. Languages
}
Languages are Drop-down or
free-type
}
and those added by training
below. Green shows some unused
}
Tool Proficiencies are Drop- For Tool Expertise granted by
down or free-type item, etc., which is not a Class-
based, the entry will need to
be entered in the Additional
Details Section or in the
Shows number of available Tools Additional Ability features
based on earlier entries and those Section.
added by training & Feats below.
}
Green shows some unused
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Additional Details
This is a text-wrapping free-type area. Use Alt<CR> for ending a paragraph. Reads out in
Character Details Section of Start; Race, Background, Class & Feats Sections of CSIV &
Character Summary sheets. It can be used for documenting any details which are not covered
somewhere else in the Character Sheet, such as Expertise with a set of Tools derived outside a
Class entitlement.
}
Drop-down w/ selection from feats
in published material
Will become available as appropriate
based on class levels. If feats aren’t
used, select Ability Score
Improvement for each occurrence
Ability Score Improvements are shown in Section 1 of Start and the far left of CSI. Feats are not
shown directly anywhere else, but their effects are shown throughout.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
}
OVERRIDE changes name of each line, next
box overrides abbreviation, EX changes
exchange rate with next row, carried counts
against carried weight, total does not, all
free-type, shown on CSII
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
}
Conditions & Exhaustion Drop-
down or Free-Type, shown on CSI,
All others Free-Type, shown on
CSI, used primarily for magic items
}
}
Additional Damage Resistance &
Reduction and Other Senses -
Drop-down or Free-Type, shown
on CSI, adds to existing;
Overrides - Free-Type, shown on
CSI, will completely replace
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
9. Equipment Worn
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
11. Attacks
Familiar, Animal Companion, Mount, Pet (shown twice, 1st defaults to familiar, 2nd to mount)
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Wildshape ( 5times)
Spellcasting
This sheet may not be ‘Unprotected’
Custom
This sheet may not be ‘Unprotected’
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
DesignSpace
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
This is the base sheet for Design Your Own (DYO). All it starts with is the Excel grid which FA has used for
all the sheets. (I would suggest you don’t change the grid.) Combine cells to create any shape or size
needed. Refer to the DYO and Named Variables section below for more on this great gift from FA.
Character Sheet I
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
Character Sheet II
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
Character Sheet II (CSII) lists your possessions including your Carried Possessions, Attuned Magic Items,
Possessions Not Carried, Carrying Capacity, Coinage, Gems, Mount, and Familiar.
Many of the fields on CSII, unlike on CSI, are editable by the player without Unprotecting the Sheet,
primarily those that deal with possessions. However, CSII may also be “unprotected” to access other
functionality or copy its fields for DYO sheets.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Gear
Item
Item can be filled-in in 3 ways:
1. Drop down arrow in the far right of the blank reveals an extensive list of armor, weapons, items and
other objects from the PHB – from which the player may choose.
2. Free type the item name into the field. The tab will attempt to match the item name, as typed, to an
existing item from the internal list to get its attributes. If the item is identified as an item in inventory, the
Magic Rarity will be reflected in the color formatting of the Item name, and the Weight of the item will be
listed in the Weight column. If the item does not match something on the Character Sheet’s inventory list,
the words “ENTER WEIGHT” will appear in the Weight column and all of the attributes of the Item can be
filled in manually.
3. Use a Named Variable as an item. Armor, shield and weapons are common. For example,
“=Attack1name” is the variable for the first weapon attack listed on the Start: Section 11. “=ArmorName”
is the variable for the player’s armor. Using variable names, the entry is automatically updated without
having to be retyped. Thus, the inventory list and the weight of all items for encumbrance effects are
always kept up to date.
An auto-complete feature is unfortunately a feature which current versions of Excel do not support
without the use of macros or third-party add-ins, which FA is attempting to avoid.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Drop-down List
Based on Item entry, the Character Sheet will match to its internal inventory list. Rarity of the magical
item, from PHB or DMG, is expressed by color coding the text of the Item. With Items that the Character
Sheet does not recognize, the Magical Rarity can be selected by typing one of the rarity codes into the
single-cell column just to the right of the Item dropdown. A drop-down is displayed, offering the options
detailed in the table below. The value appears in very small subscript on the far right of the Item field.
Uppercase characters are easier to read in superscript. An ‘A’ may be added for an Attunable Item.
Magical Rarity only affects the color of the Item’s text and the small superscript, no other function.
Qty
Qty - number possessed. Quantity x weight(from Character Sheet table or Weight Override) = Weight.
Location
Drop-down list or Free-type - It indicates where the item is stored or held. If you are consistent, you will be
able to do interesting things in calculating the weight of the containers in which you store things. See
Calculated Weight of Packs, etc below.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Weight Override
Either override the standard weight, or enter an item weight for Items which are not in the inventory.
If the Weight field for the row displays the words “ENTER WEIGHT” this indicates the item entered is not
on the internal Character Sheet inventory list and the Character Sheet is unable to determine the weight
of the item.
Enter a number in pounds. Weight entered is for a single item of this type and will be multiplied by Qty for
the total weight in the Weight column.
If a player enters a value in this column, the column field for that row will be shaded to indicate that an
override has been made.
Weight
Total weight of the quantity of items for this row.
Carrying Capacity
Automatically calculated based upon character’s Strength ability score. Select normal or ‘Variant
Encumbrance’ in Start: Options (See p. 176 of the PHB) based on instructions from your DM. Variant
Encumbrance is checked by default in the new blank Character Sheet when downloaded.
Coinage
Coinage -may not be changed directly, entered in Start: Section 8.
Wealth - value of all of the coinage plus value of all Gems, Jewelry and Art Objects.
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Character Sheet IV
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
Character Sheet V
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
It is a free text sheet for the player’s use. Each line on each side is a separate entity and the text doesn’t
wrap.
Wildshape
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
Character Summary
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
Adventurers Log
This sheet may be ‘Unprotected’
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
Advancing in Level
Players may enter a formula in the Weight column to determine the weight of a particular container, in
this example we’ll use the Backpack. Follow the instructions below:
1. Ensure that all items you wish to calculate the weight for have exactly the same location text (e.g.
“Backpack”) and avoid using multiple terms (“Pack” “backpack” “rucksack”, etc.)
2. On a blank row of the Items table enter the Item “Dropped Backpack” where Backpack is the location
term used in 1 above (Italics are for example purposes here only). Typically, players enter this on the last
row of the Items list.
4. Enter any value in the Location column (Anything but “Backpack”, “Dropped” is suggested)
6. To drop the Backpack, enter a 1 in the Qty column. The Weight column will now display dropped weight
of all the items listed as being stored in your Backpack.
There are two modes of using this Dropped Backpack function depending on whether the player uses the
Character Sheet electronically at the game table or prints out the Character Sheet and updates between
sessions (but still wants to see what the Backpack weighs).
If the player uses the Character Sheet online at the table, the player can simply set the Qty value for the
Dropped Backpack item to zero (0). When in game, if the character drops the backpack to gain some
advantage or just upon deciding to head out without it, the player should change the Dropped Backpack
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ForgedAnvil’s D&D 5E Character Generator v2.00 Instructions for Use
value to One (1). This will subtract the weight of everything in the Backpack from the inventory and
recalculate the encumbrance effects of items carried automatically, including any impacts on CSI.
If the player uses the Character Sheet to print paper character sheets for use at the gaming table, but still
wishes to know what the weight of the backpack is in case it is dropped in game, then the player can
create a second row of Dropped Backpack with the same Weight Override. The player should set the Qty
of one row to one (1) and the Qty of the second row to negative one (-1), thus negating the impact of
having the total in the inventory list, but showing the weight (and negative weight) of the Backpack on
both rows.
Players may also print multiple copies of the Character Sheet with the backpack on and dropped, or can
make other customizations to the Character Sheet to show the weight in the Item description, but these
are beyond the scope of this discussion.
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